Trees Encoiled in Vines of Ivy (Yadorigi) - Tawaraya Sōtatsu

A refined scene from the Tale of Genji, illustrating the Yadorigi chapter through the distinctive Rinpa style of Tawaraya Sōtatsu.

This work is a segment from a series of handscrolls illustrating the Tale of Genji, specifically the chapter titled Yadorigi. Attributed to Tawaraya Sōtatsu, the founder of the Rinpa school, the composition demonstrates the characteristic aesthetic of the early Edo period. The scene employs the fukinuki-yatai technique, or blown-off roof, which allows the viewer to observe the interior of the aristocratic residence from an elevated, diagonal perspective.

The figures are depicted with minimal facial detail, focusing instead on the precise rendering of their layered silk robes. The interior space is defined by geometric floor mats and patterned screens, which contrast with the organic, sweeping forms of the gold leaf clouds that drift across the composition. These clouds serve to obscure parts of the architecture, creating a sense of depth and atmospheric transition between the interior and the exterior garden.

Sōtatsu is recognised for his ability to balance decorative elements with narrative clarity. The use of gold leaf provides a luminous quality that reflects light, a common feature in high-status commissions of the time. The ivy vines mentioned in the title are subtly integrated into the decorative borders, framing the central domestic scene. The colour palette relies on mineral pigments, including malachite green and cinnabar red, which have retained their intensity over the centuries. This print captures the refined sensibility of the Japanese courtly tradition, where architecture, costume, and nature are unified through a highly stylised visual language. The work remains a primary example of the collaborative nature of the Rinpa school, where traditional literary themes were reinterpreted through a modern, decorative lens.